Vendors, council reach compromise
IN 1992, Lautoka market vendors and the city council reached a compromise on the night of July 1 after Minister for Housing and Urban Development Jonetani Kaukimoce intervened in a dispute over stall fees.
According to an article published by The Fiji Times on July 2 of that year, the vendors agreed to temporarily pay 80 cents, allowing for value-added tax. This was 20 cents more than they wanted and 20 cents less than the $1 charged by the council.
The vendors’ lawyer, Kitione Vuataki, and Lautoka mayor Fani Cheer discussed the problem until 7.30pm.
Mr Vuataki later told the vendors they would pay 80 cents until the following Thursday when the minister would meet both sides again.
“He asked that you reach a compromise so that market business can resume as normal,” Mr Vuataki said.
According to the article, the vendors at first refused to pay, but changed their minds after a passionate appeal from Lautoka Market Vendors president Makereta Rika. The decision was greeted with applause from association members.
“We should be thankful that so many people have come out to help us,” Mrs Rika said.
“I urge you to accept the conditions until the minister arrives.”
Mr Vuataki told Mrs Rika the council had requested that the vendors vacate the market the previous night. But Mrs Rika argued that there were no buses running and it would be difficult for them to find transport.
At 8.30pm the previous night, more than 140 market vendors were preparing to sleep in the market for a second night. Relatives and friends supplied them with food and hot drinks.
The vendors spent Tuesday (30/06) night in the market after refusing to leave at 5.30pm on Monday (29/06) after it was closed for business. The market was locked at 11.30am on Tuesday after the vendors refused to pay $1.
The Fiji Times understood that Mr Kaukimoce intervened the previous day after receiving a request from the Methodist Church.
Church ministers were believed to be the mediators between the vendors and the minister. The minister was unavailable to comment at the time.
Buyers were allowed in at 7.30am the previous day and at 10.30am, the market master went around to collect the new fees. The vendors had offered them 60 cents but this was not accepted.
The vendors continued to do brisk business as buyers flocked to stock up on the supplies of fruits and vegetables.
On Tuesday, market staff locked the toilets but in the evening allowed the vendors to use toilets in the old market until 9pm.
The previous day, the vendors had broken into the new market toilets and used them. These were later repaired by council workers.
Security guards, hired by the council, kept a close watch over the 1.7 million complex but there were no reports of any trouble.